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Curry-spiced beer battered cod with raita and samphire pakora

Prep time
10 mins
Cooking Time
30 mins
Serves
4

Ingredients

4 MSC-certified cod fillets
200g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
1 tsp mild curry powder
½ tsp turmeric
A pinch of cumin seeds
1 tsp baking powder
250ml cold lager (or enough to make a smooth batter)
Vegetable oil, for deep frying

A handful of samphire (or onions if not available)

For the Raita:
2 tbsp natural yogurt
1 tbsp chopped dill
1 tbsp finely diced cucumber
1 tbsp capers
4 tbsp peas (blanched or frozen & thawed)
A pinch of curry leaves (dried or fresh)
A pinch of cumin seeds
Juice of ½ lemon
A decent pinch of salt

Method

  1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, curry powder, turmeric, cumin seeds, and baking powder. Gradually whisk in lager until you have a smooth batter thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
  2. Pour vegetable oil into a deep pan (no more than halfway full) and heat to 180°C.
  3. Pat the cod fillets dry, dust lightly with flour, then dip into the batter. Fry for 5–6 minutes until golden and crisp, turning halfway. Drain on kitchen paper.
  4. Dip the samphire into the remaining batter and fry for 1–2 minutes until crisp. (These are brilliant with curry sauce on the side.)
  5. Mix yogurt, dill, cucumber, capers, peas, curry leaves, cumin seeds, lemon juice, and salt in a small bowl. Chill until ready to serve.
  6. Plate the golden cod with samphire pakoras on the side and a bowl of cooling raita for dipping.